Will Tourism in the Smoky Mountains Show a Decline in the Numbers for 2022?

Last year the Smoky Mountains saw a record 14.1 million visitors, far surpassing the 2020 numbers by more than 2 million. Of course COVID had an impact on visitation, but even compared to 2019, the total was eclipsed by around 1.5 million. This year could be a different story. There are several factors at play, and I’ll briefly touch on them as reasons why the area won’t see the 14 million number in 2022.

The first one is simple and real to many of us. The prices on everything have risen. And we’re not just talking about food. The very things that we spend in order to make the trip to Gatlinburg have been greatly impacted. While gas prices have seen a marked decline in the last couple of months, it soared and peaked in the early stages of summer.

Many of you who have booked accommodations this year have also seen the skyrocketing rates of hotels, condos, and cabins. It’s pretty staggering, to be honest. I don’t have the numbers, but the average price increase is absolutely noticeable, even if you casually research prices.

Sometimes the best information doesn’t involve numbers or much research. And by that, I’m referring to the locals. They would be the first people I would ask if I wanted an opinion on this matter. I am an avid follower of the various Smoky Mountain and Gatlinburg groups on social media, and usually a local will chime in from time to time. By those accounts, there have been a few times during the year when they’ve commented about how slow it is compared to previous years. It’s definitely a credible representation of the appearance of tapered crowds.

So, do I think the numbers will go down when the totals come out early next year? I say yes. I will be very surprised given the various factors, if they hit 14 million again. My guess is it won’t be a sharp drop. I’m thinking a little more than thirteen. What do you think? Have you noticed a normally busy time feel uncharacteristically slow? Let me know the comments.